Apparatus for curing tire flaps



March 17,1931. R. w. SNYDER APPARATUS FOR CURING TIRE FLAPS Filed Dec. 1. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l No? we 11 March 17, 1931. R, W', SNYDER 1,797,180

APPARATUS FOR CURING `TIRE FLAPS Filed DSG. l, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 17, 1931. R. w. SNYDER APPARATUS FOR CURING TIRE FLAPS Filed Dec; '1'. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Yib llllllll\ WMT yPatented Mar. 17, 1931 nonnen-W;

* -y1,797,1sfo` SNYDER, enmnong. OHIO; Asselvoa 'riefri-rneoommnn'rmnfaRUBBER i coivrrnew, ernennen.; onto; e; conrennmron; en onto APPARATUS ron cuente Tmnnnang vApi,ligation ered December 1, 1927. `serial'Ymi2.273010@c 'The inventionr relates to 'apparatus -for curingcontinuous bands offvulcanizable terial and llas particular relation to -an apparatus` of'the*abovedesignated character material.

@neobject i of the `invention `is to provide a relatively inexpensiveV apparatus for curing tire Hap"fmaterijaliyhaving a relativelygreat 1 5i for. curing i continuous bands of tire flap 10priodujc';ti`on; capacity per unitl area of. factory 'ii'oor space recpiired.

'Anoth'er object 1 of the invention is to providje* an' apparatusy forVA curing 'successive lengths" ofitire flapgmaterial as the lengths of '5'1n'aterial-A are intermittently unwound from "aplnralityof supplying` reels;

'Anoth'erfobj'efct ofthe invention is to provide -anlapparatus'Which Will permit a: substantial reduction ingrtlie number of Workmen formerly` required for curinga` given quantity of tireiap. material and also which Will dispense with numerous, trucks ,and other auxv iliary/ap'paratusfpreviously requiredV e Another object ofl the invention is to4 provideA an :apparatus forlcuring single thicknessesl of'tire flap material by direct'engagement, of' the material vvi'thr a heatingdevice. Prior to this invention, continuous lengths of tire flap material Were Wound spirally uponf'a vgr' )oved reel, after which a plurality ofthe reels- Were vvloaded upon a, truck which 'Was rolled upon atrack' intoa heater. While the flap lmaterial on the reels of the rst truck was being cured in the heater, a second truckloadofreels Was supplied with flap material. Since the' flap material. Was formed on the reels incspirallyvvound rolls, it is apparent that' the. heat Was required to be conducted the-material in order to Vprovide heat for curingl the central portion of the forolls. vObviously, a substantial lapse of time occurred before the heat reached the central portion of the rolls andl consequently the material Was-not cured uniformly. The inner and outer convolutions Vof Vthe'roll of material, being` directlyexposed to/the heat in the surrounding heaterythey were cured to a `greater extent than the convolutions nearer the central portion of the 'stri'pof material,

normally to the edges of each convolution of l This invention' comprisejsa rotatable drum provided with a pluralityjofsegmental shoes for pressing/f successive lengths off flap" material'against the drum;l Bitetrollers" are'- provided for engagingthe materialI on opposite `sides of l the ldrum andi tlie'roll-ersare driven intermittently with the drnmduringiperio ds vvhen the sho'e's'are' Withdrawn.. The relative peripheral speedsffof the pairs of". bite Within the flap vmaterial? si'ipp'orted'"by:4 thev drum. Successive i lengths? ofI the flap'.` matetension into immediate contact'vvit'h the; drum o Where the lengtli'sjv are' cured,undertle4 addi# k tional pressure of theslioesjwhich `losealterV frial thus intermittently are` brought underv y For a better understandingzof the inven- Y tionyreference may` new befliad to the accomp an'ying dfravvingsgfforming-ag parti of'tlii's specification,inwhich: Y 1

Fig. l" is an;endelevationalfvieivof? an apparatus illustrating; one embodimentk of the invention;` o e Fig 2f is a. planview off they apparatus'i'L lustrated by Fig,v 1,;certainportions ofV ther apparatus being illustrated incros'ss'ection;

- FigjSisas'ideelevationalivievv of'al` heater i forming a' part' of.` theapparatuml-a's seen to the fright' hand side of line of'Fig. A 2;vand, Y

Figi, 45 is@ a cross-sectional view of theheater takengt'o` the 3 right! hand sidejofV line; lvl-*12V oflFign u In theillustrated embodiment of the inven- I tion, amotlorllis operatively connectedtaa reductiongear,findicated'at 18; by a shaft'l.

short shaftA 14 extends frornftlhe'rediljctinn gear 13 normally to the verticalplane of the` shaft I2 andl is provided with an element I6 of a clutch- 1'7.' One end'of a shaftllS"isrotat-V Yably mounted'in the outer end ofthe shaft 14 While the oppositeen'd' portion' thereofiis ro'- tatably journaled aQbearing1'9 Ther shaft 18'Y has a movablecl'utch element keyed Vthereon Which is* adapted#.tey be movedinto engagement with the element 16. The clutch element 21 is pivotally secured between the forked ends of a lever 22 which is in turn pivotally secured to a vertical bracket 23. The opposite end of thelever 22 is pivotally mounted within an opening intermediate the ends of a` controllever 24.V This lever is pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end in a bracket 26 rigidly securedto a floor'or other suitable support. When the lever 24 is moved in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 2) the clutch element 21 engages the element- 16, thus causingrotation of thezshaft 18 by the motor 11. Y 4

The end of the shaft 18 beyond the bearing V19 is provided with a sprocket wheel 27 for ldrivinga chain 28, which in turn drives a sprocketrwheel 29.` The wheel 29 is keyed upon one of the reduced ends 30 of a roller 31,

the endsl 30 bein'grotatably journaled adjacent corresponding upper corners'of spaced frame membersI 32. Y 4Reduced' ends 33 of a Vroller-,34 also are journaled in th-e frame members 32 adjacent upperV corners thereof opposite to those supporting the roller 31. Ver-` tically extending guide bars 35 are bolted, as

indicated at 36,to each of the frame members A32 adjacent the central portionsthereof.

A second sprocketwheel 37 is keyed upon the shaft v18 betweenthe bearing 19 and the nclutch 17. This sprocket wheel engages a .chain 38 which also Vis engaged by a sprocket wheel 39 rigidly secured on one of the reduced ends 40 of a roller 41.. v The .reduced ends 40 of the roller 41 are rotatably journaled in bearing blocks 42 which are slidably mounted between spacedvertical guides 43 that are formed integrally with pedestal bearings 44.

SpacedV circumferentially formed projections 45 extend from'the surface ofthe rollers 41 throughout a substantial portion of its length.

Immediately beneath the roller 41thel reduced ends 46 of a second roller 47 are rotatably mounted in the'pedestal bearings '44, the latter roller being provided with recesses 48 complementary tothe enlarged Vportions 45.

As the roller 41 is rotatably journaled in vertically movable bearing blocks'42, its weight constantly urges it into driving relationship with the roller 47.

Alsprocket wheel 49 is rigidly mounted on the reduced end 40 of the roller 41 adjacent the sprocket wheel 39. A chain 50 trained about the sprocketf49-also engages a sprocket Awheel 51 that is rigidly mountedon one of the reduced ends 52 of a` roller 53. Bearing blocks 54, which rotatably support the ends 52, are slidably mounted between vertical vguides 55 formed integrally with pedestal bearings- 56. A roller 57 having reduced ends 58 journaled in the pedestal bearings 56 immediately beneath the roller 53, is adapted to support and consequently to be driven by the latter. A sprocket wheel 59 is keyed upon 7the reduced end 40, of the roller'41, opposite the end supporting the sprocket wheels 39 and 49. A sprocket chain 61 operatively engages this sprocket wheel and a second sprocket wheel 62, which is rigidly mounted on one of the reduced ends 63 of a roller 64. The roller 64 also is provided with spaced circumferentially formed projections 65. The reduced ends 63 of the roller 64 are rotatably journaled in bearings 66 that are bolted to brackets 67, as indicated at 68. The Vbrackets 67 are rigidly secured toV spaced vertical frames 69 and 7 0. The opposite reduced end 63 of the roller 64 also has a sprocket wheel 71 rigidly secured thereto which is adapted to drive a chain 72 also trained about a sprocket wheel 73. Oneend 74 of a roller 76, rigidly supports the sprocket wheel 73 and the'roller is journaled in bearings 77 that are rigidly supported by the frames 69 and 70. The

roller 76 also is provided with spaced cir-r cumferentially formed projections 78 which correspond in number and relative position lto the projecting portions 65 of the roller 64.

A pinion 79 (Fig.'3) rigidly mounted on the reduced end 63 ofthe roller 64,- between-l the enlarged portion of the roller and the sprocket wheel 62, meshes with a relatively large gear wheel 81 which is keyed upon a shaft 82. Bearing blocks 83 rotatably support the end portions of the shaft and are'.

bolted to theframes 69 and 70, as indicated at 84. A large cylindrical drum 86 is rigidly mounted on an intermediate' portion of the shaft 82 and is provided with spaced circumferential grooves 87 formed substantially throughout its entire external surface. The

grooves 87 are complementary to the projecting portions 65 and 78 fwhieh are formed respectively on the rollers 64 and 76. A plu- Vrality of arcuate chambered shoes 88, 89 and Y91 extend longitudinallyof the drum 86 and are adapted to surrounda greater portion of ythe surface of the latter. The shoes 88, 89 and 91 are provided with arcuate projections V92 which are complementary to and are n '96 is rigidly seoured'by brackets 98 4to the upper end of a vertical frame 99. The cylinder 97 is similarly secured brackets 101 toa second vertical frame 102. The

frames 99 and 102 are rigidly secured to an upper portion of the frames 69 and 7 0 by bars 103 which are bolted to the respective frames, as indicated at 104. Cylinders 106 and 107 have piston rods 108extending therefrom, the outer ends of which are rigidly'securcd to the shoe 91. The cylinders 106 and 107 'are supported by brackets 105 that are connected to vertical frames109 and 111, which lll are'in-'turn-rigidly 'secure-d tothe ytra-mes 70 69' respectively by bars 1110 bolted therej between'. Cylinders 112 113 are provided 'wv-ith piston 'rods 114 which are rigidly secured fait the ends :thereof remote from 'the cylinders to the shoe 89. Y Brackets "116, supporting the Vcylinders 112 an'd`113', arerigidly secu-recite Y l the upper ends ofthe trames 70 and V69; All y ujothe cylinders96, 97,106,107, 112- and 113 are rprovided'- vvith pistons 117 which 'are rigidly mounted on the loi the respective pis-ton rods'94, 108 and 114 extending' Within i thecylinders;A Springs 118 are conii-ned upon f `the piston rodsin Ieach of the cylinders be ytiveend'lhe pistons 117 fthe'ends of theV .3.5 f respective cylindersy adjacent the sho-es. c vThe v springs 118te-ndte maintain;'the'shoes 88, 89

relation to the surta-cef of conduit 119 (Fig. is adapted -t-osupply steam or other suitable heating fluidY to the interior of the drum 86and the shoes 88, 89 Vand 91. A valve 121 is insertedin the conduit `119 and serves to control the flow of heating` iuid therethrough. The conduit 119 is connected tothe interior of` the drum 86 f by a conduit 122 having a swivel connection 123'1nounted in an opening 120 inthe endiof jthe'shal't 8.2;ivhich opening extends axially through a portion of the shaft and terminates in a transverse opening 125 communiy eating with the interior of the drum 86. Convduits 124 and 126'also are connected to the conduit 119,'the `conduit 124 being provided with branches 127vand 128 that are connected to three-way couplings 129 and 131. The

v coupling 129 is connected to the interior o'f c 89 and 91 by means of flexible condu1ts136,

the shoes 88, 89and 91 by flexible conduits 132, `133 and 134. The coupling 131 likewise communicates'With the interior oi shoes 88,

by the conduits 139, 141, 142 and V143'to` a steam trap 146 from which the condensation liquid is adapted to be discharged through a conduit 14 .Y f i c A trough 148 is so mounted in an inclined position Within the interior oi the drinn 86` .as to elevate theliquid of condensation at each` revolution of. the drum to a position.

' above the horizontal plane of the center of the shaft 82.V A. conduit 151, communicating' withone end of the trough 148, is adapted A conduit 144' connects Vthe communicating kpassage formed to convey the i liquid therein to dan opening S152 formed radially` inr the shaft 82. which in turn conducts the, liquid `into van opening 15,3 which is formed axially of the shaft.

The opening 153 has ak swivel connection 154 .mounted thereinfvvhich communicates with the steam trap 146 through a con-dnit155 and the conduit v144. It isV apparent that the liquid of condensationwithin the drum 86'Wil1 Ybe dischargedat eachrevolution of the drum` through-the opening153, into the swivel con the conduits 155 3d 144 imo. the Steam trap f The rends of' the pairs of cylinders 96and 97, 106 `and 107,a`nd112 ands-113, vopposite nec-tien 154fro1niwhichit Will iiowthrough i .the'springsllS therein, areconnected respecpressed air:supply.:conduita161. A spring `closed globevalve162,havingafstein 1,63 eX- tending therefrom, is provided .inr the con` duit 161 andfis adapted to be engage-d by the end of a lever 164, ,Whichis pivotallysec-ured intermediate-the ends A thereof upon a pin Y 166 mounted in a' bracket'167extending from' the fraineineniber 70.,- Theopposite `endor" the lever 1641is pivotally secured to an intermedfiate portion of the lever'24.` y

tisto be understood that the globe valve 162 is opcnedby depressing` the stern 163, when the lever 24 is moved in a directionop- (Fig. 2).`

.posits that indicated-,by the arrow Thus the globe lvalve 162 is opened a movement of thelever 24gin va direction opposite to that Which-results in theclosing'of t-'hen elements ofthe clutchl17.

u Frames l1,'68are mountediira vertical position rinspadrelation toeach other adjacent tatably mountledin.thefframes168 in the upperopposite corners thereof. Guide bars 1'71ar'ehboltedin a vertical positiouat the end of thefra-mes 168, las indicatedrat-172- A" plurality of reels 17 3 of lti're ifiapinaterial 174 arie-:adapted tobe positioned inside;V110

by side i relationship upon` the rollers .v 169 between the guide bars 171. The flap material -7174'from eachofthereels 173 isadapted to be unvvound therefrom and threaded. `between the rollers,l l53 j andl 57, around th'eprojections 78 onthe rollers 76s Within thegrooves 87 on the drum 86, around the `projections 65 on the roller 64,betvveen` the projections 45 and the c recesses v48 on the rollers41 and47 respectively, andsecured to thereels 176 which are adapted to be positioned in side by .s1-de relationship upon therollersBland 34.V When es Y ,the frames 1,09 and 111.v Rollers V169 are rof the lever 24 is moved in 'the direction .of the arrow :('see Figg'2) the {ia-p material 174 consequently :will be unvvound from thereels 17 3fand Aagain reWoun-d upon the reels 176.

, lThe v'dialnet-ers ofthefmaterial ,engaging portions` ,ot rollers 41' `and 47 is. slightly greater than the corresponding diameters of the rollers 53 andv57. Consequently, the first the kapparatus embodying the invention, a.

pair of rollers tends to convey the iiap mate'-` rial174 at a slightly greater rate than the later pair. Thus, it is apparent that the material always is maintained under a degree of tension fromv the drum 86 tothe roller 41 depending upon the differential peripheral speed of the rollers.l K

As thelever 24 is moved ina direction opposite the arrow (Fig. 2) the transportation of the material between the reels 17 3 and 176V is discontinued, and, atthe extreme limit of the movement of the lever 24, the valve 162 is opened, thus permitting air under pressure to flow into all of the cylindersV 96, 97, 106, 107, 112-and 113. Consequently the springs 118 are compressed'by the y pressure of the air against the opposite sides of the pistons 117 and theshoes 88, 89 and 91 are urged into contactwith the drum 86. A pluralityof lengths of the flap material 17 4 thus are compressed simultaneously between the heated drum 86 and the heated shoes88, 89 and 91. At the expiration of a predetermined period of time required for curing flap material, the lever 24 is moved in the opposite direction, thus releasing the flap material from between the shoes 88, 89 and 91 and the drum 86, after which the material again isset in motion to- 2. An apparatus forcuring tire iiap material comprising spaced airs of bite rollers for feeding a strip of ap material, means` between'the pairs of rollers for curing the lmaterialand means for driving the rollers at differential peripheral speeds. 3. An apparatus for curing tire flap material comprising a heated rotatable drum for `supporting a length of tire flap material there0n,a pair or feeding devices for the m2,-

terial located on opposite sidesof the drum,

ROBERT W. SNYDER.

wards the reels 176. Whenthe ends of the `y lengths of flap material 174 cured by the previous operation of the apparatus approach the lower edge of the shoe 88, the lever 24 is again so moved as to discontinuethe move-- ment of the flap material and close the shoes 88, 89 and 91 upon the drum 86.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the invention provides an extremely economical apparatus for curing tire flap material, which is adapted tol operate intermittently upon continuous strips of uncured material. It is also apparent that *byk employing great number of operations previously required in the process of curing tire flap material nowk are obviated. Since it is unnecessary to handle the material except in supplyingv and removing it from theV apparatus, the number otworkmen required for operating the apparatus is relatively small.

Although I have illustrated only the preferred form which theinvention may assume and have described that form in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat it is not so limited but that various modifications may be made-thereinvwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for curing tire flap mater rial comprising a heater for supporting iap material thereon, means for feedlng flap ma terial to the heater, and means for delivering the material from the heater, the two meansv being interconnected by means positively driving them Vat dierential speeds.

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